The Lufthansa Group is driving forward the standardization of its Airbus A320 fleet: Austrian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Eurowings, Lufthansa and Swiss International are developing a standard specification for the Airbus A320 fleet. At the same time, the airline brands will be preserved by a different brand look.
The standardization process applies to aircraft that will be delivered to Lufthansa Group Airlines as of 2019 onward.
When it comes to standardization, the airlines are focusing on the large, cost-intensive components such as cabin design and the galley. However, even components such as emergency equipment or electronic flight bag systems should comply with a uniform and group-wide standard in future. Further standardization, for example with regard to freight loading, is being developed in cooperation with the manufacturer.
In the future, the Airbus A320 is to be configured and standardized from the outset in such a way that aircraft can be converted within a short time and with little effort when they are transferred between Lufthansa Group airlines. This will allow the Lufthansa Group to react more quickly and flexibly to current developments and to move aircraft and capacities more easily and efficiently between the airlines and the Group’s hubs.
Costs for conversion and layover time can be significantly reduced. Moreover, standardization will result in further synergies when purchasing aircraft.
All in all, Lufthansa Group airlines are expecting to receive around 100 brand-new aircraft from the Airbus A320neo family by 2025.
